The administration of Ho Chi Minh City’s District 5 held a ceremony on July 5 to commemorate the issuing of a certificate to recognise the Nguyen Tieu Festival of the Chinese community as the national intangible cultural heritage.
The Nguyen Tieu Festival, known as Tet Nguyen Tieu, is observed on the fifth day of the first lunar month by Vietnamese people, especially the Chinese community living mostly in Ho Chi Minh City. It comes hot on the heels of the lunar New Year (Tet) festival celebrated by people in a number of Asian countries, including Vietnam.
During the occasion, people often pray for peace and wish for luck in the new year. The majority of the Chinese community in Vietnam often gather around Cho Lon market to hold a street parade featuring lion dances and performers in costumes, accompanied by marching bands who play throughout the festival.
From the afternoon of July 5, thousands of people flocked to Ngo Quyen, An Duong Vuong, Nguyen Tri Phuong, and Tran Hung Dao streets in District 5 to view a parade held by the Chinese community to celebrate the event.
HCM City’s District is home to the largest Vietnamese-Chinese community in the city. Huỳnh Cẩm Phấn, a Vietnamese Chinese resident, told VOV she was happy to hear the Nguyen Tieu Festival has been recognised as national intangible cultural heritage.
“This is one of the biggest festivals in a year of not only our community but also Vietnamese people. We are obliged to preserve this age-old tradition for future generations,” Phấn said.
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Girls wear traditional Chinese costumes as they join in a street parade aimed at celebrating the Nguyen Tieu Festival being recognised as national intangible cultural heritage.
